‘After nearly destroying our planet, our relatives have become allies’: a gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the planet veered closer to ruin more so than ever during the contemporary era. This happened after an American surveillance plane found the fact that Russian atomic missile bases were being assembled in the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval quarantine encircling the island. The next phase constituted almost two weeks filled with unbearable stress.

The Catastrophic Threat

The threat was obvious. Should Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a chain reaction involving global nuclear attacks and retaliatory strikes would have followed, plunging civilization into all-out oblivion.

The October crisis has been covered endlessly, through books, films, and TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a novel perspective to the story. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the men who, over 13 days, grasped the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side thinking? What was the American side thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic of global relations.

For her, the unique appeal of the show lies in its endeavor to question: "Why do nations detest each other to the point they confront one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that individuals have the potential to be friends or can become total enemies," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and now an author and lawyer. "We see this over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, highlighting the profound irrationality it is to fight."

The Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What’s notable about this event was that, since it transpired so publicly, individuals globally were able to observe almost in real time as it edged closer to catastrophe. However, the threat of destruction came closer than most people understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, which would have destroyed the naval vessels and sunk America's primary fleet. And, we would have responded through massive retaliation which would have ended all life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in remain calm while calmly negotiate at a time when everyone around them demanded action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after the crisis, and Nina learned about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which presented an alternative picture of events.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly fine or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it was a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. In the years to come, though, that interpretation was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most significant aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and the USSR would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a sign of hope.

"Max and I are not the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is unfortunate because we connected immediately and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following nearly 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become allies, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to learn